Well, I may make a few enemies with this post, but I’ve had enough. Every now and then, I see a post on social media about how schools have “removed God.” This is complete and utter nonsense! I’ve also noticed that the people who post that garbage are the people who DON’T work in schools, and have no idea! Oh, and the most recent statement I saw was in response to the latest school shooting…..give me a break!

First of all, there is no law saying you can’t pray in school, or mention God. None. The law states that you cannot force anyone else to pray the way you pray, and educators can’t inflict their beliefs on their students. I’ve taught in public and private schools in several states, and have witnessed with my own eyes and ears how much God is present in our schools, through the people who work there, and the students they teach. I see teachers bow their heads in prayer. I hear teachers say, “God is good!” or “Praise God!” or “Thank you, Jesus!” on a daily basis. Frankly, if someone were forcing me to pray like them, I would be very unhappy. My relationship with God is MY business. I’ll pray the way I choose, and when and where I choose, which is exactly the reason for the law. Even Christians differ on how they worship. No one should be forced to do anything when it comes to religion. I have seen teachers hold hands and pray together, form Bible study groups, and offer prayers to co-workers, students, and families. I’ve also witnessed prayers around the flag pole, music programs which featured hymns, and silent prayers for veterans, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and tragedies our country has dealt with. How is that removing God from our schools?

I never remember people praying in school when I was growing up. Maybe they were quieter about it, but I don’t remember seeing it or hearing about it. So when did we exactly “remove” God from our schools? I see and hear more about faith and religion in schools more now than I ever did as a child. My children were members of FCA, Fellowship of Christian Athletes when they were in high school (actually, I think my daughter went for the free food, since she wasn’t exactly athletic). That didn’t exist when I was in school. I am familiar with at least one public high school that taught a Biblical history class in recent years. How is that removing God from our schools?

Another famous falsehood that circulates throughout social media is that schools no longer say the Pledge of Allegiance. We don’t??? Again, this infuriates me because it’s completely false, and comes from people who have no clue what they’re talking about. Yes, we say, “One nation, under God….” EVERY day! The only students I’ve ever taught who didn’t say it were the Jehovah’s Witness students. They pledge allegiance to God, not the flag, and most of the ones I have taught have been instructed by their parents to be respectful, but are not required to say it…..and it has never been an issue, so why should it be an issue for anyone else now? We’ve respected their rights, which is exactly what we should be doing for everyone. “One nation, under God….” How is that removing God from our schools?

By claiming that we have removed God and prayer from the schools shows very little faith on the part of the idiots saying it. I mean, if you are true Christians, does that mean you are able to just leave that part of yourself at the front door while you enter public buildings? Isn’t Christianity a way of being? A way of life? A commitment everywhere you go, and how you love and treat others? Aren’t you supposed to be a reflection of God’s love? Then how do you just take off that hat and leave it at the door? Statements like that make you appear very uninformed about not only what goes on in our schools, but also about what it is to be a Christian. I don’t think it’s that easy to take Christianity out of someone who is a true believer, and lives their lives according to the Bible. Actually, I know a few atheists and agnostics who are more in tune than some self proclaimed Christians! Doesn’t make you look like you are very dedicated to your own faith, now does it?

Instead of placing blame for school shootings on the lack of prayer (even though you’re free to pray wherever you like!), why not look at the combination of so many other things? Parents on drugs or in jail, poverty, lack of parental involvement, the availability to mental health care, gun laws that need to be updated according to our current needs, etc. To invent a reason such as no prayer in schools, is like saying the shooting happened because we started singing show tunes every day to start the day….it simply isn’t true, and is ridiculous! And I’m sick of it!

Stop blaming the schools! Stop spreading untruths on social media on this subject! Before stating something you think is fact, why not ask someone who does know? Better yet, how about YOU go volunteer in the schools, and see what actually goes on? Then, you’ll be free to form an educated opinion!

And it has happened yet AGAIN……another mass shooting….another SCHOOL shooting! I remember how shocked we used to be by all of this. Now it’s almost a daily occurrence. We have become numb and desensitized to the trauma. I’m going to talk about some things in this post that may upset a few people, but I’m very upset right now, as are a lot of others, about this nonsense, and how NOTHING is being done about it. I thought about apologizing ahead of time if I offend anyone, but I really don’t care if I do. There are an awful lot of innocent dead people, and someone needs to speak up. Each side accuses the other of making it political. Well, it IS political! Unfriend me or stop following me if you must. I will not point fingers at any political party, but I will be political. You all know who you vote for, and where you stand. And I will address what role Christianity (or those claiming Christians) plays in this. So…..read at your own risk.

First of all, never in my life, or my training to become a teacher, did I ever think that I could possibly be putting my life on the line in the classroom, and defending the little people I teach every day. If I wanted to work in a combat zone, I would have enlisted in the military or law enforcement. My calling was to teach. I don’t want to carry a gun. If schools start requiring teachers to be armed, I will be leaving the profession for good. If others choose to carry a weapon that’s their right. I will exercise mine not to carry a gun. But my daughter and my grandson (the only two offspring who are still in school) have the right to go to school feeling safe, and so do their teachers.

I’m not anti-gun at all. My father grew up with guns on a farm. He had guns in the house when I was growing up (put away). After all, we do have that 2nd amendment. But that amendment was written before we had semi-automatic weapons, and guns such as the now infamous AR-15. Yes, we do and should, have the right to defend ourselves. If someone is coming into our homes to hurt us or our families, we should have the right to keep ourselves safe. However, the AR-15 is meant for one thing…..killing a lot of living things in a very short amount of time. And no civilian should have access to it, whether they are mentally sane or not. It is, in itself, a weapon of mass destruction, and we’ve seen it over and over again. Yet, the politicians with the NRA in their pockets keep turning a blind eye to it. And yes, the NRA and their political buddies have blood on their hands over this. Oh, you’re an NRA member? Okay. I don’t care. I’m not criticizing you as an individual. I am condemning the organization as a whole, and how they have bought off the politicians who are supposed to be representing the people, in order to wield their power. We are talking millions and millions of dollars. They are profiting from the murder of innocent lives…..innocent children and public servants!

Mental health…..oh, here’s a good one. I’ve noticed that any time the shooter is white, there is a discussion about mental health. Well, that’s good, because there does need to be more access to mental health services in the United States. Mental health is slowly losing the negative stigma and shame, and it does seem that people are more open to getting help for mental illness, depending on the severity. Yet, so many of our mental hospitals were closed in the 1980’s, leaving these people with nowhere to go, and no options for help. Sometimes, it’s more than one person can take care of alone. Then they need help from society. It should be easier for these people to obtain mental health services! So, if the problem with mass shooters is mental health, then why is funding cut for mental health services? Why are facilities closed? They’re ill. They need help! If you vote for politicians who cut spending on mental health services, then you can’t also use the mental health argument. You can’t. It makes you a hypocrite. So if you voted for the ones who cut the funding for mental health services, then knock it off! You can’t have it both ways. I am tired of hearing it. There was a law in place, which was recently repealed, making it more difficult for the mentally ill to obtain weapons. Why was it repealed? What idiot asshole thought that was a good idea (I’ll let you do your homework on that one)? What purpose did it serve to repeal that law? Oh, and if the shooter were black, Hispanic, Muslim, etc…..oh, that’s right….terrorist, and they should be deported. The majority of these mass shootings are carried out by white, home grown, American terrorists. Period.

Another argument I heard was that this gun should not have been in the hands of a 19 year old. Really!?!?! So….a 19 year old with a history of mental illness was able to legally obtain an AR-15. Please! I have a more difficult time buying cold medicine! The argument I heard was that he shouldn’t have been able to get it until he was 21. Because when he turns 21 he will be less mentally unstable? He’ll magically become mentally stable at 21? Sorry. That “logic” doesn’t work on me. Neither does the bullying issue. Bullying isn’t the problem either. Bullying is a horrible thing that has been around from the beginning of time, and most educators do all we can to minimize it. There have always been bullies. There hasn’t always been access to weapons of mass destruction for the average person.

Another thing that was really disturbing to me with this most recent act of terrorism on American soil was the way the media described the suspect as being “adopted.” AND????? I happen to have 3 cousins, 2 nieces and several friends who were adopted, and none of them are violent or terrorists! They are my family and people I happen to love. By repeating this over and over on the news, I’m sure it was upsetting to anyone who was adopted, or loves someone who is. This infuriated me, and put an unfair label on every adopted person! Totally unfair reporting! Just what we need….more stereotypes and biases, as if we don’t have enough dividing us.

Christianity…..here we go! Yes, I do call myself a Christian. I do believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ. His main lessons were to help the poor, sick, and the children. Yet, so many people who are constantly saying they’re praying, asking for prayers, saying, “praise Jesus!” attending the “right” churches, or voting the “right” way seem to forget those simple things! Oh, they’ll pray for you! But what good is prayer if they don’t put forth some effort too? Why are they putting all of the burden on God? They’re lazy, that’s why! Why are they boasting about all of the prayer they’re sending up, but then voting for people who do the exact opposite of what Jesus said to do….take care of the poor, sick, and the children????? Oh yes, I know about the lesson of God helping those who help themselves. But sometimes people CAN’T help themselves! Oh, they’re poor? They’re sick? Do we know why? Does it really matter? No! They need help! These are also the same people who claim that God/Jesus/religion is not allowed in our schools anymore. Are you kidding me???? If you are true Christians, how can you remove that part of your personality when you are at work? True Christianity should reflect in your actions. Doesn’t God work through us? Then if we are Christians, doing God’s work, then how is He “removed” from our schools? Sorry, but yet another argument that doesn’t add up, and I’m tired of it. I use compassion and love and understanding each day with my students. They aren’t numbers. They are little lives, and they are our future. We say the Pledge of Allegiance EVERY DAY (I’ve been told many times that we don’t….maybe before posting that nonsense on social media, you should check with someone who actually works in the public schools)…..and yes, we DO say, “One nation, under God” EVERY DAY! I’ve been in schools where there were prayers around the flag pole, Bible study groups for teachers, my children were involved in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, etc. etc. etc. No one is telling us we can’t pray. We just can’t force anyone else to pray! And quite frankly, I wouldn’t want someone forcing their religion on me either. We are free to pray, and think however we want! So all of these stupid posts about how we need to put God back in our schools to avoid more school shootings only anger me more. Instead of putting it all on God, why don’t some of you step up and help out? Stop using that as a cop out! Why don’t you go volunteer in the schools? Why don’t you start serving the homeless, the poor, the hungry? How about helping the mentally ill? Volunteering in the Big Brother/Big Sister program? How about putting the prayer to work through your own actions? How about praying for God to instill in you the desire to serve others, and understand others, and have compassion for those who struggle or need help? Or, if you don’t have the desire or time to volunteer, maybe you have money, and you can help fund programs that have been cut? Time, energy, money, patience, understanding, compassion……. Oh yeah…..now I remember……the answer is more guns, and protecting the 2nd amendment, right?

The 2nd amendment has become Biblical to some Americans, and it’s sickening! They tout the Bible and say they’re Christians, but they are more willing to protect an amendment ratified in 1791 (that needs to be updated for today’s weapons) than to protect our children! That’s not a Christian. Why doesn’t our right to LIVE, and our children’s right to feel safe at school hold more weight than the right to carry a weapon?

So now we come to the right to bear arms…..concealed carry…..whatever you’re wanting to call it…..you’re carrying a gun. Let’s look at the Las Vegas shooting. That happened at a country music concert. Now, I would guess that there were probably a few people in that crowd carrying weapons. I don’t have a problem with that. It’s their right. Yet…..what good did it do them? Were any of them able to stop the maniac in the hotel with his high powered weapons and mechanisms making his weapons more powerful? More guns are not the answer! The whole load of bullshit saying, “The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun” is ridiculous! I’m sure there were plenty of good guys with guns in that crowd! So where were they? Why didn’t they stop him? Wasn’t anyone praying? If so, why did 58 people die, and nearly 500 people were wounded? What happened? Weren’t people praying hard enough? Weren’t those injured or killed deserving of God’s grace? Of course they were! But who was there doing God’s work? Prayer and guns alone are not the answer! Maybe that guy shouldn’t have been able to get his hands on those weapons in the first place!

Yes, prayer helps. Saying, “All we can do is pray” is nonsense! You can do so much more! You can stand up and speak out against the senseless crimes being committed by having access to these types of weapons. God gave us a voice! God gave us brains! Use them! If you are true Christians, then where is your compassion? Why is the 2nd amendment more important than the teachings of Jesus? I’m not trying to be preachy, but I’ve heard these arguments from “Christians,” and I’m not buying it. I’m tired of lazy people hiding behind the label of Christianity. The constitution is not the Bible. “In God We Trust” did not appear on our coins until 1864, and not on our currency until 1957. The Founding Fathers did NOT put it there (contrary to what gets repeatedly posted on social media). Saying, “Let’s pray, ” and “Let’s put God back in our schools,” and continuing to vote for more guns is NOT the answer! Putting armed guards in our schools, arming our teachers, and making it easy to buy guns (but not cold medicine), but doing nothing to fix the root of the problem is not the answer.

Other countries don’t have this problem. There are other countries who have the right to defend themselves, and they don’t have mass shootings. The United States…..the country I love with my whole heart, the country my grandfathers, father, uncles, cousins, and son have all risked their lives to defend….needs to get it figured out when it comes to the most horrifying and disgusting issue facing us today. The answer to most of us is very clear. For the rest of you….well, my husband and I will continue to speak up, while we go into our classrooms each day…..always ready for a lock down (with little to no appreciation from anyone unless we’re gunned down…..then we become unwilling heroes…..an entire blog post in itself). Oh yeah, and we will educate ourselves on political issues and candidates, taking into consideration what is best for us as a whole, and who is interested in fixing this problem,…..after all, the 2nd amendment is NOT in the Bible.

So even though this blog post is long, I hope you can see my frustration, and how saying and doing nothing about the core of the problem is as good as guaranteeing that this will continue to happen. I’m angry! I’m pissed off! No amendment is worth the loss of countless innocent lives, especially school children and their teachers.

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